Reverend Tom Hansen-Pastor

"That's a dream I have for my church -- that it would increasingly become a community of communities -- a place full of little 'villages of Christ' where people really connect, really care, really make their faith visible through love.  A place where we help people believe and become by helping them belong."

(from A New Kind of Christian, by Brian McLaren)

When I first read this statement about the church it resonated deep within me.  Isn't that what everyone needs -- a place to belong?  A church family ought to be a safe place to hear and embrace the good news that God has more love for us than we could imagine.  First Presbyterian Church of Grand Junction is committed to becoming that kind of place.  And I'm excited about leading us further and further in that direction.  What if everyone found their place in God's plan?  What if we all lived fruitful and fulfilling lives?  What if we represented Christ in authentic and compelling ways on a regular basis with everyone we came in contact with?  I believe this is God's plan for His Church and am committed to helping that become a reality in a variety of ways.

I began my graduate studies at Princeton Theological Seminary where I received a Masters of Divinity (Old Testament concentration) in 1991. My wife Shelly and I met on summer staff at Forest Home Christian Conference Center in the mountains of Southern California.  We were married in Denver, Shelly’s hometown. After graduating from Princeton, I was called as the Associate Pastor of Youth and Family Ministries at the Congregational Presbyterian Church of Lewiston, Idaho where I served in several capacities for 14 years. In the Fall of 2003, I became the “Acting Head of Staff’ upon the departure of the church’s Sr. Pastor of 17 years.

Shelly, a math teacher at Mesa State College, and I, have four children: Jenna (16), Jeffery (14), Michael (11) and Andrew (9).  They love to camp, hike, play a number of sports, travel, and play games.

My passions include helping people find meaningful ministries, preaching, mission, youth ministry and anything to do with stewardship of time, talents and treasure.  As a parent, I long for churches to come alongside families and make their baptismal vows with joy and commitment.

I gladly welcome you to the First Presbyterian Church  family in Grand Junction, CO

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